File picture of BJP leader LK Advani.
The BJP has given itself till tonight to resolve the deep crisis brought about by LK Advani's refusal to accept the party's decision that he must contest the general elections from Gandhinagar in Narendra Modi's Gujarat again. It has been advised by the RSS to allow Mr Advani his choice of seat.
Here are 10 developments in the story
After many senior BJP leaders failed to bring Mr Advani around today, party president Rajnath Singh is likely to meet him this evening. Mr Singh said in Chennai that it was wrong to say Mr Advani had been sidelined. "Advani can choose to contest from Bhopal or Gandhinagar. The choice is his," he said.
While in Chennai Mr Singh received a call from RSS number 2 Bhaiyaji Joshi, who, sources said, asked Mr Singh to leave the decision to Mr Advani. The RSS, which is the BJP's ideological mentor, is reportedly displeased that the party nominated Mr Advani from Gandhinagar against his wish.
Mr Advani, who has been winning from Gandhinagar for the last 16 years straight, wants to contest this time from Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. He has reportedly asked why he cannot contest a seat of his choice when Mr Modi and Rajnath Singh got to choose.
Top RSS leaders, including the RSS chief and deputy chief, also spoke to Mr Advani today and told him that the party must present a united face so close to the elections.
Mr Advani, sources said, had indicated to Rajnath Singh earlier this week that he wants to shift to Bhopal. Madhya Pradesh, which returned the BJP to power with a thumping majority in state elections last December, has Shivraj Singh Chouhan, seen as close to Mr Advani and someone he trusts.
Top BJP leaders have visited Mr Advani one by one since last night to convince him to contest from Gandhinagar, but he has refused to budge. Mr Modi, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, was the first to visit Mr Advani this morning, followed by Sushma Swaraj, Venkaiah Naidu and Arun Jaitley.
His colleagues have attempted to assure Mr Advani that Mr Modi, who is chief minister of Gujarat, will ensure a win for him from Gandhinagar. Mr Advani is reportedly worried about getting inadequate support from BJP workers in the state after his protracted and public protest against Mr Modi's elevation in the party last year.
Mr Modi had met RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat soon after the party's decision on Wednesday, in anticipation of Mr Advani's displeasure. Mr Bhagwat had last year intervened to bring around Mr Advani when he staged his anti-Modi protest last year.
At a meeting of the party's election committee, where Mr Advani's candidacy from Gandhinagar was decided, Mr Modi reportedly argued strongly in favour of fielding the senior leader from the seat he has won five times.
Leaders close to Mr Modi have argued that if Mr Advani moves out of Gandhinagar, Mr Modi's political opponents will attack him over such a senior leader's discomfiture at contesting from his state.
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